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News Alert! |
Press Release
April 8, 2003
For further information contact:
Anne Hedges (MEIC) 594-2457 or 443-2520
www.NoToxicBurning.org
Study Finds State Health Assessment Inadequate
The State of Montana has failed to adequately assess the health effects of tire burning at the Holcim, Inc. cement plant near Three Forks, according to a recent study by a professor at the Boston University School of Public Health.
The study’s conclusions have prompted citizen groups to request the state to conduct a more complete assessment of the hazards of tire burning. “In light of these findings and the serious health risks dioxins pose, the state needs to complete an Environmental Impact Statement on Holcim’s tire burning plan.” said Anne Hedges of the Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC).
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently issued Holcim, Inc. a Draft Air Quality Permit to burn whole waste tires. The draft permit would allow the cement plant to burn up to 1,137,539 tires per year or approximately 3100 per day.
Cement plants are among the largest producers of dioxin in the United States. Studies show that burning tires in cement kilns leads to significantly increased emissions of dioxins, furans and heavy metals. Many health problems are associated with these substances including reproductive impairment, developmental delay, and cancer.
Montanans Against Toxic Burning and the Montana Environmental Information Center contracted with Dr. Tom Webster of Boston University’s School of Public Health to review the health risk assessment of the proposed tire burning. Dr. Webster, D.Sc., is one of the country’s leading experts on dioxins, and has served on the USEPA’s Dioxin Peer Review/Risk Characterization Committee. Dr. Webster conclusions were:
Despite the health risks, DEQ has classified the potential physical and biological effects on air quality as "minor". They have classified the social and economic effects on human health and agricultural production as "minor". And at this point, they have recommended against completing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
“The Draft Air Quality Permit has some serious weaknesses. The state has ignored most of the comments and concerns voiced by citizens, health professionals, engineers and others over the past year. This report confirms that some of these health-related concerns are well founded,” said Kris Thomas of MATB.
The Webster report clearly shows that Holcim failed to adequately assess the health risks. DEQ accepted the assessment without a thorough review and issued a draft permit on the basis of this flawed information. And to complicate the matter, the air dispersion modeling, which is the foundation for the health risk assessment, used weather data from the Great Falls Airport and does not accurately reflect air dispersion at Trident and in the Gallatin Valley.
The DEQ will be accepting public comment on the draft permit through Friday, May 9th. They will be also holding a public hearing on this issue on Tuesday, April 29th, 7 p.m. at the Manhattan School.
Click Here to read the full report, "Review of the Health Risk Assessment for the Holcim, Inc. Cement Plant at Trident, Montana by Thomas F. Webster, D.Sc., Assistant Professor of Environmental Health at Boston University School of Public Health. (It is a 122K Acrobat .pdf file)
-End-
Montanas Against Toxic Burning (MATB)
PO Box 1082, Bozeman, MT 59771 www.NoToxicBurning.org message phone 585-4217
Mark Your Calendars
April 22nd, Tuesday. Earth Day. 7:00 PM
MATB hosts informational meeting at the Emerson Weaver Room. Earth Day -- Come spend the evening with doctors and other citizens concerned about the health effects of tire burning.
April 24th, Thursday.
County Health Board considers the Draft Air Quality Permit.
April 29th, Tuesday. 7:00 PM
State sponsored public hearing on the Draft Air Quality Permit allowing Holcim, Inc. to burn whole tires and other wastes.
May 9th, Friday.
All public comments on the Draft Air Quality Permit are due.